After 7 VERY long days and nights, our six teachers have successfully completed the first session of the 2009 GSTC Teacher Workshop.  In addition to a day in husbandry, and a night with Turtle Patrol, all six participants presented an educational program to the public and led a Turtle Walk!  After our final Turtle Walk, I was under the impression they would go back to the hotel and relax, and then I received this;

“Teachers always have to have the last word and we would like our last one to be a big old THANKS! We all agree that we have been given the chance of a lifetime to work with some of the most special patients and we thank the GSTC staff for having the patience to work with us. In Georgia, we have all stumbled across logs, but imagine our excitement on our first turtle walk to stumble upon a nesting loggerhead who had never before been tagged. Our boys boasted that they would bring in a leatherback on their patrol and indeed they did! We saw our loggerhead on Saturday night and we spent the night with the very picky leatherback on Monday night. We were taught by a true teacher as we raced through the maritime forest with 4-H director, Richard Chewning. He renewed our spark with his energy and enthusiasm. Georgia Graves saved our thumbnails when we dug up the nifty little thumbsplitter and taught us piles about the ecology of barrier islands. The staff of the Georgia Sea Turtle Center shared their vast knowledge with us during our visit. As we migrate back to our own respective parts of Georgia, we will share our education with our own little hatchlings.

As teachers, we understand that scheduling, planning, and organization are vital for memorable educational experiences. We would like to thank Alicia for her time and effort to make this an unforgettable, once-in-a-lifetime experience for all of us.

To the upcoming July teacher turtle team in teal, we believe that records are made to be broken. We challenge you to work hard, sleep little, learn much, and above all, bring in those turtles! We hope you have a successful trip and hope you leave with as many wonderful memories as we have. Last but not least, we’d like to thank our fearless leaders (and yes, they were FEARLESS), Dr. Marti Schriver and Dr. Ken Clark for doing the legwork behind the grant that brought all of us here. If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, please make this one of your summer destinations. We promise it will be an experience you will never forget!”

Happy Turtling,

Amy, Elizabeth, Mark, Rob, Sandra, and Tracey

I speak on behalf of the entire GSTC Staff when I say, it was a pleasure working with each and every one of the.  They truly were a great group of individuals and we continue to look forward to working with them in the future.  Tracey and Rob came down today to assist with Nest Fest!  Thanks again guys for a great week!  Be sure to check back with us next month, when we offer the second session of the GSTC Teacher Workshop.

~Alicia Marin, GSTC Education Coordinator